Essa Subclass — Fighter
Doctrine of the Vanguard
⚔ Striker — Single TargetThe aggressive duelist. Mark a quarry, refuse to let go, and end them.
Hit Died10
SavesWIS, DEX
ResourcePulse Points
RigNo Rig
Archetype: Single-target pressure specialist
Vanguard Knights lock on to a single target and refuse to let go. They channel pulse into concentrated bursts of pressure, chase mechanics, and forced dueling. A Vanguard who marks a target makes that target's life miserable until the fight is over.
The Vanguard doctrine emerged from the arena traditions of the interior Shatterds — gladiatorial fighters who developed the bonded-blade tradition as a means of forcing individual combat. Where other Pulse Knights spread their force, Vanguards concentrate it into a single relentless pursuit.
Doctrine of the Vanguard — Shatterds Sourcebook
Key Mechanic: Mark the Quarry
When you hit a creature with your bonded blade, mark it as your Quarry. Blade Symbiosis deals +1d4 against your Quarry, and you can chase them as a Reaction. Vanguard's Pressure at level 10 lets you choose two Blade Symbiosis riders against your Quarry.
Class Features
Level Progression
| Level | Features | PP/Turn |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Mark the Quarry | 1 |
| 6 | Relentless Pursuit | 2 |
| 10 | Vanguard's Pressure | 2 |
| 14 | Blade Ascendancy | 3 |